𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗘𝖳𝖧𝖤𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗,

                                                                                  𝙵𝙰𝙳𝙴   𝙸𝙽:

𝟷.     𝙸𝙽𝚃.     𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴     —     𝙳𝙰𝚈. 

                                        ❝          it’s   honestly   amusing   how   his   boss   assigned   him   a   buddy   who   very   clearly   doesn’t   want   to   be   his   buddy   at   all.   yves   acts   less   like   someone   guiding   a   new   employee   around   and   more   like   cedric   is   some   inconvenience   suddenly   attached   to   his   schedule   for   the   day.   the   vibe   is   painfully   obvious.   like   one   wrong   sentence   from   cedric   might   personally   ruin   yves’   life.   and   cedric   already   knows   better   than   to   test   that   on   his   first   day.   because   apparently,   anything   involving   santi   yoo   immediately   turns   yves   into   someone   who   acts   like   company   rules   no   longer   apply   to   him.   cedric   still   doesn’t   really   get   it.   as   far   as   he   can   tell,   there’s   nothing   particularly   special   about   their   boss   that   explains   why   yves   follows   him   around   like   some   ridiculously   lovesick   teenager.   but   instead   of   saying   any   of   that   out   loud   and   risking   unemployment   before   lunch,   cedric   wisely   keeps   his   mouth   shut.   

cedric   follows   him   anyway   toward   the   cafeteria,   trailing   behind   while   yves   heads   straight   to   a   table   he   already   claimed   by   leaving   his   id   there   earlier.   dibs,   apparently.   after   that,   they   move   toward   the   food   display   for   today’s   menu,   cedric   scanning   each   tray   one   by   one   while   deciding   what   actually   looks   edible.   “   beef   steak   lang,   ”   he   says   eventually,   pointing   at   his   choice   before   glancing   sideways   at   yves.   “   ikaw,   anong   kakainin   mo?   ”

                                                                             (   𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃'𝙳   )

yves   wouldn't   have   agreed   to   this   if   santi   hadn't   asked   him.

the   buddy   system   was   not   something   yves   had   any   intrinsic   interest   in   participating   in.   yves   had   a   job,   his   own   job,   with   its   own   scope   and   its   own   demands,   and   that   job   did   not   include   the   pastoral   care   of   people   who   had   just   started   theirs.   it   was   not   within   his   paygrade,   it   was   not   within   his   job   description.   it   was,   by   yves's   reading   of   his   contract,   entirely   optional.

but   santi   had   asked   him,   politely.   and   yves   had   an   embarrassingly   poor   track   record   of   saying   no   to   him,   so   here   he   was,   playing   babysitter.

though,    babysitter   was   maybe   slightly   uncharitable.   cedric   had   a   competent   quality   to   him   that   yves   hadn't   been   expecting   based   on   the   general   track   record   of   orientation   days.   he   wasn't   asking   questions   yves   found   irritating.   he   wasn't   walking   too   slowly,   wasn't   stopping   to   photograph   his   surroundings   or   asking   yves   to   repeat   himself.   he   seemed   to   have,   already,   a   reasonable   grasp   of   how   things   worked,   which   meant   yves's   role   had   been   less   explain   everything   and   more   exist   nearby   in   case   something   comes   up,   which   was…   tolerable. 

[ SIT ]  for one muse to finger the other who sits in their lap fully clothed,  keeping an arm around their waist to make them stay still. 

[ RISK ]  for one muse to drive and finger the other who is in the passenger seat. 

[ DISTRACT ]  for one muse to drive while the other gives them head/fingers them. 

[ WATCH ]  for muses to cuddle on a couch while watching tv and one of them begins to finger the other but stops every time they make too much noise. 

[ SUBTLE ]  our muses are cuddling,  sender begins to feel up receiver and tease them. 

[ STILL ]  our muses are cuddling,  receiver begins to feel up sender and tease them. 

[ GUIDE ]  while one muse is riding the other,  the one being ridden takes hold of the one on top’s hips to control their movements. 

[ CLOSE ]  our muses have sex in lotus position,  clinging to each other desperately.  

[ GAZE ]  our muses are having sex in missionary and the one on the bottom tells them to slow down so they can just look at them for a few moments. 

[ DELAY ]  one muse is trying to get ready to go somewhere while the other keeps kissing them and unbutton/unzipping their clothes. 

[ CAREFUL ]  one muse is recovering from minor injuries,  so the other takes charge and makes them stay still while they have slow,  sensual sex. 

[ REVERENT ]  one or both muses have been pining for a while,  sender body worships receiver by kissing all over their body and giving them oral. 

[ GRATIFICATION ]  one or both muses have been pining for a while,  receiver body worships sender by kissing all over their body and giving them oral. 

[ MESS ]  our muses are supposed to be cleaning up in the shower after sex,  but sender starts to finger receiver. 

[ RESTART ]  our muses are supposed to be cleaning up in the shower after sex,  but receiver starts to finger sender. 

[ CLEANSE ]  our muses have sex in the bathtub. 

[ TENSION ]  one muse is patching up the other’s injuries which leads to intense eye contact,  lingering touches and them finally crashing their lips against each other’s. 

[ DISCUSSION ]  for our muses to talk about kinks and figure out their boundaries together. 

[ APPROACHED ]  our muses haven’t been intimate yet and sender finally broaches the subject to receiver  (  feel free to add dialogue or actions  ) 

[ APPROACH ]  our muses haven’t been intimate yet and receiver finally broaches the subject to sender. 

[ SUGGESTIVE ]  our muses are hanging out and end up on the topic of turn ons,  kinks,  and what they’re attracted to. 

[ GROUND RULES ]  for our muses to discuss boundaries before trying something new in bed. 

[ OBSERVE ]  for sender to show receiver where and how they want to be touched. 

[ DEMONSTRATE ]  for receiver to show sender where and how they want to be touched.

[ LINE ]  our muses are supposed to only be pretending to be together for a mission or fake dating,  but they keep going and neither one of them is stopping which leads to them hiding away to have sex.  

[ DEBATE ]  our muses are arguing because sender is worried and overprotective of receiver,  but when they get up in each other’s faces they end kissing and groping at each other. 

[ CLAIM ]  our muses are arguing because receiver is worried and overprotective of sender,  but when they get up in each other’s faces they end up kissing and groping at each other. 

[ SENSUAL ]  for sender to slowly undress receiver,  caressing and kissing every part of them they expose. 

[ GRADUAL ]  for receiver to slowly undress sender,  caressing and kissing every part of them they expose. 

[ SERVICE ]  our muses just showered together,  sender dries off receiver with a towel and kisses each part of them they dry as they go. 

[ CARESS ]  our muses just showered together,  receiver dries off sender with a towel and kisses each part of them they dry as they go. 

COMMUNICATION

❝  well,  honestly i’ve never really had sex before and was kinda hoping you would teach me.  ❞

❝  i’ve never tried that before.  but i want to,  can we just take it slow?  ❞

❝  don’t be nervous,  i’ll guide you through it.  ❞

❝  just because i’ve never actually fucked someone doesn’t mean i don’t know what i like.  we have toys for a reason.  ❞

❝  show me what you like.  ❞

❝  can we take a break?  i’m enjoying this i just need a moment.  ❞

❝  can i be on top this time?  ❞

❝  can i be on bottom this time?  ❞

❝  just relax,  lie still and let me take care of you.  ❞

❝  do you think we could try pegging?  i’ve always been kinda curious.  ❞

❝  you can blindfold me but i want my hands free if we do that.  ❞

❝  let me know if the ropes are too tight,  okay?  ❞

❝  i think i’m ready.  if you are too,  i wanna have sex.  ❞

❝  listen,  i’ve wanted to get you in bed since you first smiled at me.  but we don’t have to do this unless you’re sure.   ❞

❝  i’m ready,  but we should set some ground rules first.  ❞

❝  can you use your mouth again?  i really liked that.  ❞

❝  do you like how this feels?  ❞

❝  yes,  i like this.  can you just—  please keep doing that.  ❞

❝  i don’t want to be touched this time,  i just want to focus on you right now.  ❞

❝  i prefer to do the giving if that’s okay?  ❞

❝  i like receiving but,  if you want me to do something i will.  i want you to feel good too.  ❞

❝  you can go harder.  i’m okay,  i want you to.  ❞

❝  i don’t want to have to think or have control.  just,  do what you want with me.  if something is too much i’ll let you know.  trust me.  ❞

❝  do you need me to slow down?  ❞

❝  what can i do to make you more comfortable?  ❞

❝  i know this is really vulnerable for you,  so we can take this as slow as you need.  you’re in control here okay?  ❞

                                                                                  𝙵𝙰𝙳𝙴   𝙸𝙽:

𝟷.     𝙸𝙽𝚃.     𝙱𝙸𝙻𝚈𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽     —     𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃. 

                                        ❝          tj   doesn’t   usually   lose   when   it   comes   to   billiards.   even   with   terrible   eyesight   and   glasses   practically   glued   to   his   face   twenty-four   seven,   he   can   still   shoot   straight   just   fine.   he   just…   unfortunately   misses   this   one   shot,   and   somehow   that   single   mistake   completely   ruins   his   game.   now   he’s   left   standing   off   to   the   side   with   his   cue   stick   resting   against   his   shoulder   while   watching   yves   casually   sink   one   ball   after   another   like   he’s   been   waiting   for   tj   to   mess   up   this   entire   time.   at   some   point,   the   gap   between   their   scores   becomes   embarrassing   enough   that   tj   already   knows   there’s   no   recovering   from   this   anymore.

he   lets   out   a   short   laugh   at   yves   celebrating   his   victory,   shaking   his   head   while   a   small   smirk   slowly   pulls   at   the   corner   of   his   lips.   “   sus,   swinerte   ka   lang,   ”   he   mutters   with   a   shrug   before   walking   over   to   start   gathering   the   balls   from   the   pockets   of   the   table.   then   he   glances   back   at   him   briefly.   “   but   i   don’t   go   against   my   word,   ”   he   says,   amusement   still   obvious   in   his   voice.      “   so   ayan.   you   have   me   for   one   week.   ”

"sus,   alam   ko   naman   na   gusto   mo   rin   akong   makasama   for   the   week,   eh."   yves   said   confidently,   one   hand   resting   on   the   felt   behind   him,   weight   shifted   onto   his   hip.   he   looked   at   tj.   a   full,   unhurried,   top-to-bottom   kind   that   yves   did   when   he   wasn't   pretending   to   be   civilised   about   his   attraction   towards   tj,   which   was   most   of   the   time.   his   eyes   started   somewhere   around   tj's   face   and   moved   down   with   interest.   his   brain   was   already   moving,   jumping   forward   into   the   rest   of   the   week   and   was   assembling   options.   because   yves   had   won,   which   meant   he   got   to   decide   what   came   next.   and   yves   had   ideas.   several   of   them.   ranging   from   innocent   to   explicit,   all   of   them   involving   tj,   most   of   them   involving   tj   underneath   the   sheets.

                                                                                  𝙵𝙰𝙳𝙴   𝙸𝙽:

𝟷.     𝙸𝙽𝚃.     𝙱𝙸𝙻𝚈𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽     —     𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃. 

                                        ❝          tj   leans   over   the   billiard   table   carefully,   tongue   pressing   against   the   inside   of   his   cheek   while   lining   up   his   shot.   “   easy,   ”   he   mutters   to   himself   before   finally   striking   the   cue   ball.   for   one   hopeful   second,   it   looks   like   the   shot   might   actually   go   in,   only   for   the   ball   to   hit   the   edge   of   the   pocket   and   bounce   right   back   out   instead.   he   immediately   straightens   up   with   a   groan,   dragging   a   hand   down   his   face.   “   bwiset   naman   oh.   ”

the   shot   looks   promising   for   a   second.   yves   finds   himself   tracking   the   cue   ball   nervously,   which   is   embarrassing,   and   then   the   ball   clips   the   edge   of   the   pocket   and   bounces   back   out,   and—

                                                                                  𝙵𝙰𝙳𝙴   𝙸𝙽:

𝟷.     𝙸𝙽𝚃.     𝙱𝙸𝙻𝚈𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽     —     𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃. 

                                        ❝          “   only   if   you   win.   but   i   doubt   you   will.   ”

                                                                                  𝙵𝙰𝙳𝙴   𝙸𝙽:

𝟷.     𝙸𝙽𝚃.     𝙱𝙸𝙻𝚈𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽     —     𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃. 

                                        ❝          “   ahhh,   gumugusto   din.   you   can   stay   for   as   long   as   you   want  if   you   want.   ”

                                        ❝          zoren   glances   at   him   briefly   before   returning   his   eyes   to   the   road,   a   quiet   chuckle   slipping   out   when   yves   repeats   the   word.   “   yes,   ngawa.   unfamiliar   ba   sa’yo   ’yung   term?   ”   he   says,   tone   light   but   teasing.   “   hindi   pala   kayo   pareho   ng   kuya   mo,   ’no?   at   least   siya,   may   pagka-kanal   kahit   papaano.   ”   he   lets   that   hang   for   a   second,   one   hand   steady   on   the   wheel   as   he   adjusts   their   route.   it’s   too   late   for   lunch   anyway,   might   as   well   make   it   both   lunch   and   dinner.   it   still   surprises   him   how   different   yves   is   from   his   brother.   he’s   known   the   guy   for   years,   spent   enough   time   around   him   to   pick   up   his   habits,   his   humor,   even   his   temper.   but   yves…   yves   has   always   been   harder   to   read.   zoren   tried   before,   a   few   conversations   here   and   there,   but   most   of   the   time   he   just   got   ignored,   so   he   stopped   pushing   it.   until   today.   when,   out   of   nowhere,   he   gets   asked   to   pick   him   up.   “   of   course,   ”   he   adds,   a   little   softer   now.   “   ako   naman   ’yung   nagyaya,   so   i’ll   cover   everything.   you   don’t   have   to   worry   about   it.   ”   he   glances   at   him   again,   just   for   a   second.   “   okay   lang   ba   sa’yo   if   we   eat   at   hoshino?   ”

                                        ﹒✿﹒      ୧          it   still   feels   strange,   even   now,   how   peri   ends   up   finding   comfort   in   someone   she   used   to   dislike   so   much.   back   then,   yves   was   the   last   person   she   ever   imagines   leaning   on   like   this.   and   it’s   not   like   she   came   into   this   city   planning   to   befriend   him   either.   if   anything,   she   avoided   it   at   first.   she   doesn’t   like   the   idea   of   needing   someone   just   because   she’s   alone,   especially   not   someone   she   never   got   along   with.   but   time   has   a   way   of   shifting   things.   being   stuck   in   a   place   that   feels   unfamiliar,   overwhelming,   and   too   big   makes   her   see   him   differently.   and   what   she   finds   isn’t   the   version   of   him   she   built   in   her   head   before,   but   someone   kinder,   someone   who   carries   more   than   he   lets   on.   looking   back   at   college,   all   the   side   comments,   the   tension,   the   petty   remarks   they   threw   at   each   other—   it   all   feels   unnecessary   now.   maybe   some   of   it   made   sense   back   then,   maybe   some   of   it   was   deserved,   but   not   all   of   it.   she   still   thinks   there   are   parts   of   him   that   could   be   better,   habits   that   need   unlearning,   but   she   understands   now   that   people   don’t   just   act   the   way   they   do   for   no   reason.   there’s   always   something   behind   it.   and   with   yves,   it’s   protection.   a   way   to   keep   himself   from   getting   hurt.   and   she   respects   that,   even   when   she   doesn’t   fully   agree   with   how   he   goes   about   it.

what   she   values   now   is   how   he   shows   up.   not   because   she   needs   anything   from   him,   not   because   of   what   he   can   offer.   yves   has   a   whole   world   around   him   already,   people,   connections,   a   life   she   doesn’t   try   to   insert   herself   into.   she   doesn’t   need   the   parties   or   the   comfort   that   comes   with   it.   what   she   needs   is   simpler   than   that.   someone   steady.   someone   familiar   in   a   place   that   constantly   feels   like   it’s   shifting   under   her   feet.   and   somehow,   he   becomes   that   for   her.   it’s   almost   funny,   in   a   way.   out   of   all   the   people   he   surrounds   himself   with,   peri   probably   feels   like   the   most   out   of   place,   the   least   exciting.   she   even   thinks   she   might   be   the   most   boring   friend   he   has.   but   maybe   that’s   exactly   why   it   works.   because   with   her,   things   slow   down.   there’s   no   pressure   to   perform,   no   need   to   keep   up.   just   quiet,   normal   moments   that   feel   real.

he’s   also   the   only   one   she   tells   everything   to.   the   only   one   who   knows   what   really   happened   a   year   ago,   why   she   left,   why   she   isn’t   with   calum,   why   she   chose   to   walk   away   from   everything   without   warning.   he   knows   the   parts   she   doesn’t   say   out   loud   to   anyone   else,   the   kind   of   pain   that   still   lingers   no   matter   how   much   time   passes.   maybe   calum   knows   too,   in   his   own   way,   if   he   still   thinks   about   her   at   all.   but   yves   is   the   one   who   hears   it   directly.      “   i   went   home   for   my   daughter   and   my   mom’s   death   anniversary,   ”   she   says   quietly,   her   voice   softer   now   as   she   moves   to   sit   beside   him,   arms   crossing   over   her   chest   as   if   trying   to   hold   herself   together.   “   nasabi   ko   naman   ata   sa’yo   ‘yon…   kaya   ako   umuwi   bigla.   ”   her   gaze   drops,   fingers   curling   slightly   against   her   sleeves   as   she   gathers   her   thoughts.   “   dumeretso   ako   sa   cemetery…   tapos   siya—   nando’n   na   siya.   ”

she   inhales   sharply,   the   memory   hitting   her   all   over   again.   the   image   of   calum   standing   there,   back   turned,   just   like   her,   visiting   the   same   grave.   their   daughter’s   grave.   the   thought   alone   makes   her   chest   tighten,   painful   and   familiar.   because   she   knows   she   isn’t   the   only   one   who   lost   something   that   day.   he   did   too.   and   she   hurt   him   again   by   leaving   the   way   she   did,   without   a   word,   without   even   giving   him   the   chance   to   understand.

people   carried   their   own   grief.   yves   knew   this.   everybody   had   something.   everybody   was   walking   around   with   some   kind   of   wound.   you   passed   people   on   the   street   and   you   didn't   see   it—loss,   guilt,   the   flavour   of   sadness   they   might   have   been   marinating   in   for   however   long—because   people   were   good   at   carrying.   people   were   built   to   carry.   the   human   body   could   hold   an   astonishing   amount   of   pain   and   still   walk   upright,   still   smile,   still   show   up   to   work,   still   order   coffee,   still   do   every   small   ordinary   thing   that   made   up   a   life. 

yves   carried   ghosts   of   his   own.   he   had   been   carrying   it   for   years,   and   had   folded   it   into   himself   so   thoroughly   that   most   people   didn't   even   see   it   anymore.

peri   carried   ghosts   too.   ghosts   she   had   told   him—not   all   at   once,   but   in   pieces,   over   months,   years,   in   the   private   disclosures   that   happened   between   two   people   who   had   decided,   that   they   were   safe   for   each   other.   peri's   grief   was   different   from   his.   bigger,   in   some   ways.   more   concrete.   a   grave.   a   daughter.   a   mother.   a   failed   relationship.

yves   was   sympathetic   to   all   of   it.   genuinely,   so   much   that   it   would   have   surprised   the   version   of   himself   who   had   known   peri   in   university.   back   then,   they   had   been   so   different   with   each   other.   so   petty   and   consumed   by   the   friction   of   two   personalities   that   rubbed   wrong.   it   had   felt,   back   then,   like   they   had   all   the   time   in   the   world   to   waste   on   disliking   each   other,   because   life   hadn't   gotten   too   complicated   yet.   life,   in   university,   had   been   light   enough   that   you   could   spend   your   energy   being   annoyed   at   someone's   tone   of   voice   or   the   way   they   answered   questions   in   class.   they   hadn't   needed   to   think   about   much. 

peri   had   grown.   yves   could   see   it   clearly:   the   way   she   held   herself   now   versus   the   way   she'd   held   herself   at   twenty-one.   she   had   grown   in   good   ways;   she   had   become   kinder   without   becoming   weaker.   had   become   more   honest   without   becoming   cruel.   had   turned   her   pain   into   something   that   made   her   more   human   rather   than   less.

yves   wasn't   sure   he   could   say   the   same   about   himself.

he'd   changed,   yes.   he   was   different   now   from   the   person   he'd   been   in   university.   but   grown   implied   direction,   improvement,   and   yves   wasn't   confident   his   trajectory   had   been   upward.   he   was   still   angry.   he   still   frustrated.   he   still   had   a   deep   well   of   unresolved   feelings   that   he   had   not,   in   all   these   years,   figured   out   how   to   drain.   yves   hadn't   grown   out   of   his   anger.   he'd   just   gotten   better   at   managing   it.   and   managing   wasn't   the   same   as   healing,   the   same   way   a   bandage   wasn't   the   same   as   finding   a   cure.

but   peri   didn't   need   him   to   be   healed.   that   was   the   thing   about   them—the   reason   that   made   their   friendship   work   where   so   many   other   relationships   in   yves's   life   had   stalled.   peri   didn't   need   yves   to   be   fixed.   she   didn't   need   him   to   be   soft,   she   didn't   need   him   to   be   gentle,   peri   just   needed   him   to   be   there.   and   yves,   who   was   bad   at   many   things,   bad   at   vulnerability,   bad   at   family,   bad   at   letting   people   in,   was   good   at   being   there   for   her.

they   were   each   other's   safe   spaces   now.   the   irony   of   it,   given   where   they'd   started,   was   not   lost   on   yves.   but   peri   was   the   only   person   yves   would   talk   to   about   his   family.   the   only   one.   he   would   rather   drop   dead   than   open   up   about   his   brother   or   his   parents   to   anyone   else.   the   words   physically   would   not   come.   but   with   peri,   somehow,   they   did.   he   would   sit   beside   her   on   a   couch   or   across   from   her   at   a   table   and   the   things   he   couldn't   say   to   anyone   else   would   just…   arrive,   and   peri   received   them   without   flinching,   and   yves   had   learned,   over   the   past   years,   that   that   was   what   safety   felt   like.

and   in   return,   he   listened   to   her.   he   sat   with   her   grief   the   way   she   sat   with   his   anger.   let   her   talk   when   she   needed   to   talk   and   let   her   not   talk   when   she   needed   to   not   talk.   and   sometimes   he   gave   advice,   although   advice   was   a   generous   word   for   the   blunt,   unvarnished   observations   yves   tended   to   offer.   he   didn't   think   peri   needed   advice.   peri   was   smart.   she   knew   what   she   needed   to   do,   usually.   what   peri   needed   was   someone   to   listen.   yves   could   do   that.   he   was,   in   fact,   better   at   that   than   he   was   at   most   things.

"malamang   nasasaktan   parin   siya,   peri."   there   was   no   sugar   coating—yves   didn't   do   that.   he   didn't   really   believe   in   dressing   things   up   in   sweeter   language   to   make   them   easier   to   swallow.   "nawalan   rin   siya   ng   anak.   you   lost   a   daughter.   he   also   lost   a   daughter.   and   then   he   lost   you   on   top   of   it.   so   when   you   say   he   looks   just   as   hurt   as   the   day   you   left—yeah.   he   probably   is.   he   was   grieving   his   child   and   then   he   was   also   grieving   you,   and   he   had   to   do   both   of   those   things   at   the   same   time,   alone,   without   you."

almost a sequel to this. for the cliches, the relationships you read about in romance novels & see on your tv screen.

friends  to  lovers.

be  honest,  have  you  ever  thought  about  us?

if  this  ruins  everything,  i'll  still  be  glad  i  said  it.

you're  the  safest  place  i've  ever  been.

i  don't  want  to  risk  our  friendship.

i'm  terrified  of  losing  you.

you've  slept  over  a  hundred  times  before...  but  this  feels  different.

i  see  how  you  look  at  me.

you  look  radiant  tonight.

i'm  sorry,  but  i'm  in  love  with  you.  and  i  think  you  love  me  too.

i  don't  know  why  but  i  hate  your  new  [ partner. ]

if  this  is  a  dream,  don't  wake  me  up.

you  always  know  exactly  what  to  say.

fake  dating.

hold  my  hand.  act  normal!

we  said  no  falling  for  each  other.

you're  scarily  good  at  pretending  to  like  me.

i  thought  the  plan  was  to  fake  a  relationship,  not  be  in  one!

you  kissed  me  like  it  actually  meant  something.

oh  thank  god,  they  bought  our  story.

quick!  kiss  me.

don't  look  at  me  like  you  actually  want  me.

i  wanna  see  how  far  we  can  take  this.

why  does  everyone  think  we're  perfect  together?  ...are  we?

this  was  supposed  to  be  simple!  then  i...

quick  reminder:  we're  just  pretending.

rivals to lovers.

god,  you're  insufferable!

you're  infuriating. and  yet...  i miss  you  when  you're  not  here.

you're  the  last  person  i  want  to  care  about.

i  think  you're  the  only  person  that  actually  understands  me.

i've  never  felt  like  i've  been  pushed  so  far  by  someone  before.

i  want  to  win.  but  i  don't  want  to  lose  you.

you're  the  only  one  who  can  keep  up  with  me.

you  drive  me  crazy.  and  i  think  i'm  crazy  for  you.

i  think  you're  the  only  person  i  want  to  compete  with.

i'm  tired  of  pretending  like  i  don't  care  about  you.

if  you  win,  you  can  have  me  for  the  night.

mutual  pining.

why  did  you  say  friend  like  that  when  you  introduced  me?

do  you  ever  feel  like  you're  holding  onto  the  shadow  of  something?

don't  read  too  much  into  that.

i'm  not  staring  at  you!  i  was  just  looking  in  that  direction.

i  guess  i  just  know  too  much  about  you.

it's  nothing.  just  my  imagination  running  wild  again.

i'm  not  jealous  of  them!  you'd...  make  a  cute  couple.

i  wasn't  waiting  for  you,  i  just  happened  to  be  here.

it's  silly,  but  i  always  notice  when  you're  not  around.

you  don't  need  to  say  anything.  just  sit  with  me.

enemies  to  lovers.

you  make  my  blood  boil...  and  i  hate  that  i  like  it.

maybe  i'm  fighting  for  more  than  just  victory.

i  hate  you.  i'm  terrified  of  what  that  means.

i  loathe  everything  about  you.

i  will  destroy  everything  you  stand  for.  but  i  won't  hurt  you.

i'm  supposed  to  see  you  as  the  enemy!

i  can't  stop  thinking  about  you.  you're  in  my  blood.

you're  supposed  to  tear  me  down,  not  look  at  me  like  that.

i  want  to  crash  into  you.  i  don't  care  what  that  means.

we're  from  opposite  worlds!  this  could  never  work!

                                                                                  𝙵𝙰𝙳𝙴   𝙸𝙽:

𝟷.     𝙸𝙽𝚃.     𝚂𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸'𝚂 𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴     —     𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃. 

                                        ❝          santi   glances   up   from   the   scattered   blueprints   and   urgent   email   threads   glowing   on   his   screen,   his   shoulders   aching   from   another   long   stretch   of   overtime.   the   client   had   demanded   these   revisions   be   rushed   for   tomorrow,   so   he   had   told   yves   earlier   to   head   home   and   rest   if   he   wanted.   now   the   entire   firm   sits   silent   around   him,   all   the   architects   and   engineers   gone,   leaving   only   the   low   hum   of   the   air-conditioning   and   distant   city   lights   beyond   the   windows.   when   the   door   creaks   open,   yves   walks   in.   “   oh,   hindi   ka   pa   umuuwi?   ”   he   says.   before   santi   can   answer,   yves   crosses   the   room   and   settles   directly   onto   his   lap.   santi   quickly   wraps   his   arms   around   yves’   waist,   pulling   him   close,   savoring   the   solid   weight   as   a   much-needed   break   from   the   stress.

the   warmth   of   yves   against   him   eases   the   tight   knot   in   his   chest.   santi   buries   his   face   in   yves’   neck,   kissing   slowly   along   the   skin   while   his   palms   slide   down   to   rest   on   yves’   thighs,   squeezing   gently.   he   has   been   incredibly   touchy   lately,   needing   the   constant   reminder   that   they   are   truly   back   together.   “   i’m   so   glad   na   we   started   over   here,   ”   he   murmurs,   voice   low   and   sincere.   “   mababaliw   ata   ako   if   ganito   ako   ka-stress   and   wala   ka   sa   tabi   ko.   ”   he   pulls   back   just   enough   to   glance   toward   the   door,   then   at   the   clock   on   the   wall.   it   reads   ten   o’clock   pm.   “   wala   naman   ng   tao   dito   no?   tayo   nalang   ba?   kahit   ba   yung   guard   umuwi   na?   ”   he   asks,   making   sure   they   are   completely   alone.

his   hand   inches   higher   along   yves’   thigh   until   he   palms   his   cock   through   the   fabric   with   a   slow,   deliberate   stroke.   “   why   did   you   stay?   pwede   ka   namang   umuwi   nalang   at   hintayin   ako   doon,   ”   santi   says,   his   voice   rougher   now   as   he   keeps   touching   him,   one   arm   still   locked   firmly   around   yves’   waist.   the   exhaustion   from   work   fades   into   the   background,   replaced   by   heat   and   need   for   the   man   in   his   arms.

                                          “   𝙽𝙴𝙴𝙳 𝚈𝙾𝚄   ”

Send one of the prompts below to get a response from my muse.

wrong/random number texts: 

( ✉ → sms ) found your number written on a wall… should i erase it?

( ✉ → sms ) [random name here]? is this still your number?

( ✉ → sms ) pretty sure you dialed the wrong number, but thanks for the 13 drunk voicemails last night.

( ✉ → sms ) you don’t know me but i’m bored and texting random numbers, so hi!

( ✉ → sms ) you FUCKING asshole, i hope you know how much i hate you!!!

sad texts:

( ✉ → sms ) can you please distract me so i don’t cry in public?

( ✉ → sms ) everything hurts lately

( ✉ → sms ) thanks for trying to cheer me up, but it’s not working.

( ✉ → sms ) what makes you feel better when you’re sad?

( ✉ → sms ) i just need to vent…

drunk texts:

( ✉ → sms ) im not DRUNK waht amkes you thijnk that

( ✉ → sms ) cna you pick me up… and brign some shoess… i cant find mine

( ✉ → sms ) the party was horrible but at least ikm drunk lol

( ✉ → sms ) whyj don’t oyu fuckign miss me????

( ✉ → sms ) all i wnat to do right now is talkk to you

angsty texts:

( ✉ → sms ) please talk to me. please help me make this work.

( ✉ → sms ) i don’t think we should see each other again.

( ✉ → sms ) when will we admit we’re no good for each other…

( ✉ → sms ) just know i cared about you. i really did.

( ✉ → sms ) i don’t think things can ever go back to the way they were between us

misc texts:

( ✉ → sms ) why do you reply so slowwwwwww

( ✉ → sms ) help me choose a pizza topping please

( ✉ → sms ) don’t listen to any of the voicemails i sent last night. i was drunk.

( ✉ → sms ) you haven’t watched my snapchat story all day. what are you up to?????

( ✉ → sms ) i’ve had the same dream about you three times in a row, is that weird?

( ✉ → sms ) why is april fool’s the only day of the year where people critically evaluate news articles before accepting them as true?

                                        ❝          “   ngawa—   ibig   sabihin,   wala   ka   nang   ginawa   kundi   puro   reklamo,   ”   he   explains   as   calmly   as   he   can,   though   there’s   a   faint   edge   of   sarcasm   in   his   tone.   zoren   leans   over   to   the   passenger   seat,   reaching   across   to   buckle   yves’   seatbelt   for   him.   “   safety   first,   ”   he   adds   with   a   small   grin   before   settling   back   in   place   and   focusing   on   the   road.   “   mukhang   gano’n   nga   ka-important   sa   kanila,   ”   he   mutters,   easing   the   car   forward.   then,   after   a   brief   glance   his   way,   he   asks,   “   anyway,   okay   lang   ba   sa’yo   kung   kumain   muna   tayo?   hindi   pa   ako   nag-lulunch   eh.   ”